Ice vending machine



NOV l2, 1937 J. H. SCHREIBER v 2,097,897

ICE VENDING MACHINE Filed NOW 5, 1932 1l Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 2, 1937.` J. H. scHRElBER 2,097,897

ICE VENDING MACHINEl Filed Nov. 5, 1932 11 sheets-shewl 5 Novf 2, 1937. J. H. scHRElBr-:R 2,097,897

ICE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 ll il |l\ Il r| il [l *il Il f'f: I| M NOV- 2, 1937- J. H. SCHREIBER ICE VENDING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Shea?l 6 f Filed NOV. 5, 1932 Qlllhl Nov. 2, 193.7.r J H, SCHRHBER Y 2,097,897

ICE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. `5, 1932 11 sheets-sheet 7 Nov. 2, 1937. J. H. SCHREIBER 4ICE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1h52 y11 sheets-Sheet 8 Nov. 2, 1937. J. H. SCHREIBER ICE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 l1 Sheets-Sheet 9 y Nov. 2, 1937. J, H, SCHRHBER y 2,097,897

ICE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1952 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 h j f2; 'mff/M( Nov 2, 1937. J. H. SCHREIBER ICE VENDING MACHINE 11 sheets-sheet 11 Filed Nov. 5, 1952 I Quan.; rukte-W T". Emme uktsw -HH -mmm Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNrrso stares PATENT ortica ICE VENDING MACHINE John H. Schreiber, St. Louis, Mo.

Application November 5, 1932, Serial No.` 641,335

21 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines, and has special reference to machines designed and adapted for use as ice vending machines, although the machine may be applied to various uses.

Objects of the invention are to provide an automatic vending machine equipped with mechanism that remains normally unoperated and Which operates automatically and as an incident to the insertion of a coin of the proper size and Value to convey to or through an outlet opening one of the articles of merchandise contained in the machine; to provide mechanism for supporting and successively moving to proper position for ejection from the machine various separate articles to be ejected respectively by the conveyor mechanism when the machine is operated by the insertion of the coin; to provide series of magazines into which the articles are initially placed 90 and which are operated automatically by the operating mechanism of the machine to carry the articles to the conveyor that ejects the articles successively as determined by the coins placed in the machine and controlling the operating mechanism; to provide improved means for detaching and removing the articles of `merchandise from the magazine and retaining the articles in proper relationship for operation of the conveyor; to provide improved operating connections for moving the magazines through cycles of operation to positions for loading or receiving the articles, and thereafter to position to discharge the articles for subsequent operation of theconveyor; to provide an improved automatically operated closure for the outlet opening that is operated intermittently to closed and open positions by the operating mechanism placed in operation by the coins inserted in the machine; and to improve generally the entire mechanism of such a machine, so that the machine will operate accurately and precisely to place the articles of merchandise into position for discharge so long as any ,of the articles remain in the machine and to render the machine incapable of operation when all of the articles of merchandise have been dis# charged.

Various other objects and advantages of this improved machine will be readily apparent from the following detail description, without specific mention, reference being made to the annexed drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which--` Y Fig. 1 is an elevation with parts broken away illustrating the general arrangement of the magazines and automatic operating connections.

Cil

(ci. S12-35);

Fig. 2 is 'an enlarged elevation of a part of the mechanism for raising and lowering and shifting the magazines laterally, and also illustrating a part of the guide devices for the magazines.

Fig. lis an end elevation of the machine at the line 3-3 of Fig. 1illustrating the mechanism for operating the magazines vertically and laterally, and the discharge opening.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of Figs. l and 5.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional View approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the conveyor mechanism approximately on the line B--6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 lis an enlarged horizontal sectional View of one end portion of the machine approximately on the lineL-'l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one end portion of one of the magazines.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of one end portion of a magazine engaged with a shifter device approximately on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is an enlargedsectional view on the irregular section lline Ill-l of Fig. l.

Y Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative positions of the tiers of magazines in the machine.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line l2-I2 of Fig. 4, illustrating the conveyor and ejector mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the mechanism for operating the closure for the outlet opening.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view on the line Ill-I4 of Fig.A 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line l5--I5 o f Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a .sectional view on the line lli-I6 of Figs. 12 and 15.

Fig. 17 is an end elevation of the lower part of the machine opposite from the discharge end. p Fig. 418 is a detail view showing the mechanism for supporting the descending tier of magazines.

Fig. 19 is an enlargement of a part of the devices that support the descending tier of magazines. y

Fig. 20 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 20-20 of Fig. 17, showing the devices for raising the ascending tier of magazines.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2I-2I of Fig. 17, showing one of the devices for supporting the descending tier of magazines during their descent.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View Fig. 27 is a sectional view on the line 21-21 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 28 is a sectional View on the line 28-28 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 29 is a sectional View on the line '29--29 of Fig. 22. K Y

Fig. 30 is a sectional view on the line 39-39 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 31 is a diagram graphically illustrating the sequence of operations of the machine.

kFig. 32 is a diagram of the electric circuit wiring employed in this machine.

The machine comprises a number of transverse bottom. frame members I to which are attached the longitudinal side members 2 and the transverse end members 3. Two upright angular frame members A are attached to the bottom frame comprising the members I and 2 at the front of the machine, and two upright angular frame members 5 are attached to the bottom frame at the rear of the machine, and these four frame members are at the corners of the machine. The upper ends of the frame members i are rigidly connected with a longitudinal ang-ular frame member 9 and the upper ends of the frame members 5 are rigidly connected by a longitudinal frame member 'I (Fig. 4). The upper ends of the frame members 1I are connected With the upper ends of the corresponding frame members 5 by transverse frame elements B. The upright frame members 4 and 5 at each end of the machine are rigidly connected by a number of rigid transverse frame members 9 (Figs. 1 and 3). The frame members 9 at each end of the machine support a vertical guide rail I0.

An electric motor I I (Figs. 1 and 5) is mounted upon the bottom of the frame and through a speed reducer I2 rotates the shaft I3. A sprocket wheel I4 (Figs. 5 and 22) is mounted loosely on the shaft i3 and is formed with a clutch member I 5. A similar sprocket wheel I 6 is also loosely mounted on the shaft I3 and is formed with a clutch member I 'I extending toward the clutch member I5. The shaft I3, between the clutch members I5 and I l, isprovided with threads i8 on which is screweda clutch member i5 movable into and out of engagementwith the clutch members I5 and II, respectively, in order to rotate one or the other of the Wheels iii and i5 by the shaft I3. The motor II is a reverse operating motor and when rotating in one direction will operate the clutch member I9 into engagement with the clutch Vmember I5, and when rotating in the opposite direction will disengage the clutch member I9 from the clutch member I5 and Will engage said clutch member i9 with the clutch member Il, and vice versa. The clutch'member IS has a weighted portion i9' which holds the clutch member I9 from rotating with the shaft I3 when the direction of rotation of the shaft I3 is reversed and causes said clutch member I9 to move along the `shaft i3 by operation `of the threads I8. v

A sprocket chain 2i) connects the Y'sprocket wheel Ii with a sprocket wheel 2| attached to a von the rails 39.

shaft 22. A sleeve 23 is supported by the shaft 22 and said sleeeve supports three cams 24, 25 and 26. These cams are attached to the sleeve 23, which is not rotated by the shaft 22 but is rotative independently of said shaft. The shaft 22 may be rotated while these cams remain stationary and the cams may be rotated while the shaft 22 remains stationary. A chain 2l connects the sprocket wheel I6 with a sprocket wheel 28 attached to the sleeve 23. Accordingly, when the clutch member I9 is engaged with the clutch member I5, the shaft 22 will be rotated and the cams 24, 25 and 26 will remain stationary; and when the clutch member I9 is engaged with the clutch member I'I, the cams Will be rotated while th'e shaft 22 remains stationary.

The shaft 22 is held from rotating with the sleeve by a pawl 2| (Fig. 29) engaging a ratchet wheel 22 rigid with the hub of the wheel 2l. These devices permit the shaft 22 to be rotated in one direction by the connections for ro- -tating the wheel 2l, but prevent reverse rotation of the shaft 22.

The sleeve 23 is held from rotating with the shaft 22 by a pawl 23 (Fig. 30) engaging a ratchet wheel 23 rigid with the sleeve 23. These devices permit the sleeve 23 and the cams 24, 25 and 25 to be rotated in one direction by the connections for rotating the wheel 23 to prevent reverse rotation of said sleeve and said cams.

Shafts 29, 39 and 3i (Fig. 22) are journalled transversely of the axis of the shaft 22 andhave cranks 32, 33 and 35, respectively, engaging in the grooves 35, 35 and 3l in theV cam members 24, 25 vand 25, respectively. Accordingly, rocking movements will be imparted to the shafts 29, 39 and 3I when the cams 2t, 25 and 26 are rotated.

A series of supporting bars 38 are rigidly supported in parallel spaced relationship near the bottom of the machine and adjacent to the rear f side of the machine (Figs. 4 and 5). A pair of longitudinal angle bars 39 are mounted for vertical movements between and are held from longitudinal movements by abutment frame members 49 (Fig. 6). rigidly connected by transverse members 4I supported upon crank levers 42. The crank levers Mare attached to rock shafts 43 having rigid therewith depending arms 49. Links 45 connect the arms i4 with the upper and lower ends of a lever 45 pivoted on a rock shaft il?. A link 48 connects the lever i5 with an arm i9 rigid on the shaft 3! so that, when said shaft 3| is rocked by its cam 2S, the said connections from said shaft SI Will operate the lever arms 42 to raise and lower the rails 39.

A conveyor and ejector device is operative along the rails 39 and comprises a pair of angular side members 59 Yequipped with rollers 5l operating The rails 39 cooperate with guides 52 to guide the members 50 in their longi tudinal movements. The members 59 are attached together by tie members 53. A link 55, has one end pivoted to one of the tie members 53 and the opposite end pivoted to an arm 55 attached to the rock shaft d1. A segmental rack 5S attached to the rock shaft 4'! is engaged by a segmental rack 5l attached to the rock shaft 29. Accordingly, when the shaft 29 is rocked by its cam 2t, the shaft d1 will be rocked and the connections therefrom will reciprocate the members 59. The reciprocating movements of the membersV 59 are timed, sc that said members 59 are moved to retracted position, which is toward the left (Figs. 5 and 6), during the time that the These angle bars 39 are supporting rails 39 are in their lower position and are operated to support and move the cakes oi 'ice when in their upper position. In their raised position the members 58 are above the plane of the supports 3B. Fingers 58 project upwardly from rigid connection with the members 50 and, when said members 58 are in their raised position,

. these lingers project between the ice cakes, and,

when said members 50 are in their lower position, the lingers 58 are below the ice cakes supported on the supports 38. Accordingly, in movying backwardly toward their retracted position,

toward the left as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 12, the iingers 58 are below the cakes of ice on the supports 38. When in their retracted position,

the levers 82 are operated by the rocking of the shaft 3| to raise the members 58 and project the fingers' 58 above the upper surfaces of the supports 88 and between the cakes of ice on said supports.

The machine is mounted in a, cabinet or other enclosure 58 having a discharge opening 60. A

gate 6| is provided to open and to close the discharge outlet and operates and moves vertically in guides 62 (Fig. 5). These guides are provided with racks 83 (Figs. 13 and 14), and the racks are engaged by pinions B4 attached to a shaft 65 rotatively supported by the gate 6| and functioning to hold the gate in proper relationship to the ,guides and prevent the gate from becoming jammed or wedged. A rod 66 extends through a socket 8l pivoted to an arm 68 attached to the gate 8|. A collar 69 on the rod 66 will raise the gate to open position when said rod is moved upto the gate.

- end of the rod 68 is pivoted to one end of a lever l 85 comprises an inclined series of rollers 15.

l! mounted on a pivot 12. A link 13 has its upper end pivoted to the opposite end of the lever 7| and its lower end pivoted toan arm 14 rigid on the shaft 39. Accordingly, when the shaft 38 is rocked by its cam 25, the gate 8| will be raised and lowered by the connections operated by said shaft 38.

A discharge device through the gate opening series of rollers 'l5 are spaced to provide a gap into which the gate 6| extends when said gate is closed (Fig. 6). A roller 16, similar to the rollers 15, is supported by a frame 1l. The gate 8l extends between the side members of the frame 'il and is connected therewith by a rod 18 (Fig. 16) extending into slots 'i9 in the side members of the frame ll. By this connection, the roller lil is raised into the gap and in proper alinement with the series of rollers l when the gate is moved toward open position. When the gate moves downwardly to closed position, the frame ll is moved downwardly by the rod 18 and permits the gate to move into the gap in the series of rollers 'l5 (Fig. 6).

A latch 42' (Figs. 6 and 12) is pivotally supported on the frame member 3 and engages the lower shoulder 6| of a depression in the gate 8| when said gate is in closed position. By this means the gate is held securely locked to prevent unscrupulous persons from forcing it open l and removing articles from the machine.

' (Figs. 3 and 5). `l pivots 86 and the upper ends of said levers 84 The from the shoulder 6| by means of a link 45 connected to the conveyor lifting arm 44. Since the gate is not lowered until after the latch 42' has been returned toengaging position, the lost motion vconnection between the latch 42 and the link 45 will enable the latch to ride over the gate and into engagement with the shoulder 6| to prevent reopening of the gate under the machine is again operated.

The intermittently rotated shaft 22 has a pinion 88 attached to each end. The pinions 80 mesh with the gears 8|, each of which has a cam 82 formed in connection with its inner side. The cams 82 receiverollers 83 supported by the lower ends of levers 84. The direction of rotation of the gears 8| is in the' direction of the arrows 85 The levers 84 are mounted on areconnected by links 8l with levers 88, there being one of said levers 88 at each end of the machine. The levers 88 are pivoted on axle members 88. rllhe upper end of each lever 88 supports a pair of rollers 98 and the lower end of each of said levers supports a pair of similar rollers 9 i. Thus, it is clear that when the gears 8i are rctated in the direction of the arrows 85, the cams 82 will oscillate the levers 88 in unison and will swing said levers from the solid line position (Fig. 3) to the dotted line position, and vice versa, with a period of dwell in each of said positions during the time that the gears 8| are moving through about 90 of a revolution.

Each of the gears 8i is also a crank, the lower end of a link 92 being pivoted eccentrically to each of said gears. The upper end of each link 92 is pivoted to a segmental rack 93 mounted for rocking movements on a support 94. Each segmental rack 93 meshes with a pinion S5. The pinions 85 are mounted for rotation on the axle members' 89 and are rigid with large gears 98. A' l..

vertically sliding rack 9'! meshes with one side of each gear 96, and a vertically sliding rack 98 meshes with the opposite side of each of said gears. These racks operate in guides 99. Thus, it is apparent that when the gears 8| are rotated, rocking movements are imparted to the segment 93 and thereby to the gears 86, and the racks 91 and 98 are moved vertically. The racks 91 are always moved in the opposite direction from that in which the racks 98 are moved, and

vice versa. The stopping position of the gears 8| is clearly illustrated Vin Fig. 3the pivot |88, connecting the links S2 with said gear 8l, being about 45 below the highest position through which said pivots move.

` and construction may be varied without depar- .ture fromrthe nature and principle of the invention. Each magazine device comprises a pair of longitudinal upper side members |92 and a longitudinal intermediate member |83 (Fig. 4), opposite end walls |88 rigidly attached to said members |82 and |88, a series of vertical spaced partition plates |85 (Figs. 7 and 8) having their upper ends Vrigidly attached to the members |D2 Accordingly, when the gears 8| start to rotate, the link 82 is moved upwardly a and |03, and transverse supporting plates |06 supported'in spaced relationship-by the partition plates |05 and the end plates |04. The plates 06 are separated.; by spaces |01. The cakes of ice are placed in the compartments between the respectivel partitions I05and in the compartments between said' plates |05 and the end plates |04. Any suitable number of these compartments may be provided in each magazine, the specific arrangement shown having eight compartments in ,each magazine device, so that each magazine device, will supportl eight separate cakes of ice |08.

kA rigid horizontal bar |09 (Figs. 3- and 8) is attached in spaced relationship to the upper' portion of each end wall |04 by end spacers ||0 and middle spacers III. The spacers I II extend downwardly beyond the bar |09 and their lower ends rigidly support a pair of spaced anges I I2. A horizontalledge ||3 is rigidly secured between the spacersl II and to the lower edge of the bar |09 at each end oi each end'wall |04.

Eachr of the two racksV 9'! is formed with a shoulder H4 (Fig. 2bn-which projects under the ledges H3 on the lowest magazine unit of `the tier of magazine units at the rear or descending side of the machine. Y Accordingly, the lowest magazine unit of the descending tier of magazine `units, which. are at the rear of themachine, will -be supported by the ledges II3 seated upon the shoulders H4 of' the two racks 91. When said racks 97 descend by operation of the gear wheels 96, of which .there is one at each end of the machine, the descending tier of magazine units will be lowered a distance equal to the height of one magazine unit andVV the rollers H5 and H6 placed on transverse rails |09 (Figs. 5 and 6).

Each end Wall |04 of each magazine unit supports a series of rollers H5,r H6, II'I and I|8 (Fig. 3). The rollers I I5 and I IB are at the lower corners of the end walls |04 and rest upon the bar |09 of the next lowermagazine unit, both in theascending and'descending series of said units. The rollers II'I and I|8 are above the rollers H5 and I I9, respectively, and in the descending series of magazine units the rollers operate against the frame members 5, while the rollers I I8 in the descending series of magazine units operate against the guide rails I0. In the ascending series of magazine units, the rollers I|8 operate against the frame members 4 and the rollers I|`| operate against the guide rails I0.

A lifting member ||9 is connected to the rack 98 at each end of the machine by a pivot |20 and actuated toward the end walls |04 of the magazine units by a spring I2I (Fig. 20). These liftingmembers I|9 have shoulders |22 designed and adapted to engage under the ledges I I3 and thereby raise the tier of magazine units at vthe lfront or ascending side of the vmachine during upward movement of the racks 98.

The gear whee1.8|, at the end of lthe machine opposite the `discharge opening.60, supports a pin |23 (Fig. 17) 4which operates. to engage and swing upwardly the adjacent end of a lever |24 during a part of the revolution of said wheel 8|. The lever |24 is supported ona pivot |25 and the outer end of said lever is pivotally connected :with` the lower end of a link |26, the upper end of which link is pivoted to the outer end of an angular lever |21. The lever |21 is attached to a rocking shaft |28. The upper end of the angular lever |27 is pivoted to one end of a link |29,

the other end of said lever being pivoted to one shaft I3| at the opposite end of the machine'. from the rock shaft |28. A spring |32, connecting the lever |30 with the machine frame, acts to hold the lever I 30 and the train of connections therefrom to the lever |24 in their unoperated positions. A pair or" upstanding arms |33 are attached to the shaft |28 and extend inwardly toward the end walls |04 of the lowest magazine unit in the descending tier of magazine units. These arms |33 are formed with shoulders |34 near their upper ends which engage under the bars |09 to support the magazine units of the descending series.

A pair of arms |35, similar to the arms` |33, are attached to the rock shaft ISI and are operated in a like manner to engage under the adjacent bars I 99 of the lowest magazine unit in the descending series.

A pair of arms |33 (Fig. 17), similar to the arms |33, are provided at each end of the machine for supporting the magazine units in the ascending series. These arms |33 are mounted on a pivot |34 and the upper ends of said arms swing inwardly toward the ends of the next lowest magazine unit in the ascending tier and engage under the bars |09 and thereby support the ascending tier of magazine units. These arms |33 support the ascending tier of magazine units when the racks 98 descend for the purpose of engaging and raisin-g the last magazine unit 'that had been shifted from the descending tier to the ascending tier by operation of the levers 88. Accordingly, it is clear that the arms |33 will support the ascending tier of magazine units high enough to permit another magazine unit to be shifted thereunder by operation of said levers 88.

The rollers 9@ on the upper ends of the levers 88 are received between the flanges I I2 of the uppermost magazine unit in the ascending tier during upward movement of said ascending tier of magazine units, and the lever 38 is then operated to shift laterally the uppermost magazine unit from the ascending tier to the descending tier, the rollers |55 and IIS operating along the bars |09 of the next lower magazine units (Figs. 3) and 9).

The rolle-rs 9| on the lower end of the levers 88 are in position to be received between the flanges Il? on the lowest magazine unit in the descending tier during the time that the rollers 90 are in position to be received -betweenvthe flanges l i2 ofthe uppermost magazine unit in the ascending tier, as just described. The shifting of the levers 8S then moves the lowest magazine unit in the descending tier laterally to position as the lowest magazine unit in the ascending tier. The shifting of the upper magazine unit from the ascending tier to uppermost position in the descending tier and the shifting of the lowest magazine unit in the descending tier to lowest position in the ascending tier are simultaneous operations effected by the levers 38.

During the time that the pivots |90 are moving from their stationary positions, indicated in Fig. 3, upwardly to their highest positions, the racks 92? are moved upwardly and the racks'98 are moved downwardly short distances. Such upward movements of the racksj 92"' is enough to engage the shoulders lill with the ledges I i3. "When the shoulders il@ are engaged with the ledges l E3, the weight of the descending tier of magazine units is released from the arms |83.

Then during the descending movement of the pivot pins |09, the racks 9'? are moved 4downwardly, permitting the descending tier of magazine units to move downwardly and the rollers V ||5 and H6 to engage upon the transverse rails |89 preparatory for lateral shifting of the lowest magazine unit from the descending tier to the ascending tier.

During this time the levers 88 have beenl operated to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, placing the rollers 50 in position to be received between the flanges l I2 of the uppermost ascending magazine unit and placing the rollers 8| in position to be received between the anges ||2 of the lowest descending magazine unit.

At the same time that the racks 91 are moved downwardly, the tracks 98 are moved upwardly engaging the lifting members i i5 under the ledges H3 at opposite ends of the lowest magazine unit` in the ascending tier. This raises all of the magazine units in the ascending tier and engages the rollers 90 between the flanges i|2 of the uppermost unit in the ascending tier of magazine units. At the same time, the rollers 9| are engaged between the ilanges i 2 of the lowest magazine unit in the descending tier of magazine units.

In the meantime, the pin i23 (Fig. 17) is passed beyond and out of engagement with the lever |24, permitting the arms i33 to engage under the cross bars |89 of the next lowest magazine unit in the descending tier of units. i

During lateral movement of the lowest magazine unit from the descending tier to the ascending tier, the ice blocks |08 are held from lateral movement and between the pairs of fing-ers 58, which are in vertical alinement with thepartitions |85 in the starting or unoperated positions of the members 50. A series of spaced arms |35` (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) are attached to a rigid support |31 in position so that said arms |30 extend through the spaces |01 at the bottoms of the magazine units during lateral movement of the magazine units from the descending tier to the ascending tier. These arms |38 hold the ice cakes from lateral movement so that said ice cakes are slipped from the supports |06 onto the supports 38.

Next, the members 50 are operated forwardly to move all of the ice blocks forwardly, eject'the foremost ice block onto the rollers 15, and place the remaining ice blocks in proper position for another operation. This forward movement of the ice blocks places the second ice block from the front in the front position when the foremost ice block; is ejected and discharged. When the ice blocks are thus moved forwardly the members 50 are lowered and carry with them the ngers 58 below the lower surfaces of the ice blocks, so that the fingers 58 can move to their retracted positions without engaging the ice blocks and, when in their retracted positions, can be raised and eX- tended upwardly between the lower portions of the ice blocks ready for another operation.

A number of vertical stops |38 are attached to tubes |39 mounted for sliding movements along rods |40. In one position of these stops |38, they are opposite the spaces |01. In another position, the stops |38 are in alinement with the partitions` |05 and are between the partitions |05 in the ascending and descending series of magazine units (Fig. '7).

Upright bars |58' are attached to the frame structure of the machine in position to be engaged by and stop the cakes of ice when the cakes of ice are slipped into the magazine compartme-nts in the descending series of magazines. In addition to preventing the cakes of ice from moving 1 through and beyond the magazine during loading,

these bars |38 also function as guides for the outer ends of the cakes of ice in the descending series of magazines during downward movement.

When the machine is to be loaded or supplied with ice cakes, the stops |38 are shifted laterally to position in alinement with the partitions |05, as indicated by .dotted lines (Fig. '1). This permits ice blocks to be slipped across from the rear of the machine to load the tier of magazine units in the descending series. After all of the magazine'units, other than the uppermost unit in the descending series of the magazine units, have beenioaded, the stops |38 are shifted to position opposite the spaces |01 in order to stop ice cakes passed into the ascending series of magazine units. Y

In order to guide ice cakes into the uppermost magazine unit in the descending series, a frame 14| is mounted on pivots |42 in connection with theframe members 4 and may be swung `from upright position (Fig. 3) to horizontal position (Fig. 4) to guide ice cakes to the compartments in the upper magazine unit in the descending series; Guide ilanges |43, spaced in alinement with the partitions |05, are attached to the upper side of the plate |4| so as to guide the icecakes properly. A lever |44, for operating the plate |4|, is attached to one of the pivots |42 and is connected with a spring E45 which operates to support the plate |41 yieldingly in its upper position.

vA gear |48 attached to the sleeve 23 meshes with a similar gear |41 attached to a sleeve |43 rotative in a bearing |49 (Figs. 22 and 23). A disc |50 is also attached to the sleeve |48 and has projecting from one side a pin |5|. It is now clear that the gear |41 and thereby the disc |50 vrotate uniformly with the sleeve 23 and with the cams 24, 25 and 26 attached to said sleeve. An arm |52 is mounted on a pivot |53 and has an Vextension |54 adapted to be engaged by the pin `|5| once during each revolution of the disc |50 in the direction of the arrow |55 (Fig. 24). A spring |56 holds the arm |52 yieldingly in its unoperated position, as shown. A mercury switch |51, of familiar construction and operation, is mounted on the arm |52 in position to close the circuit between the electric circuit wires '|58 when the arm |52 is supported in its unoperated position. During rotation of the disc |50 in the direction of the arrow |55, the pin |5| engages the extension |54 and thereby moves the arm |52 to an inclined position until the pin 15| passes beyond and out of engagement with the projection |54. Thereupon, when the projection |54 is released from the pin E5l, the springl58 throws the arm |52 in the opposite direction, causing the mercury in the switch |51 momentarily to break the circuit between the wires |58. The switch |51 is normally closed and is only momentarily opened once during each revolution of the disc |50, as indicated.

When a coin is placed in the machine, the switch |59 is thereby closed, thus energizing the magnetic coil |60 (Fig. 32) and operating the switch closure bar |6| to move to closed position the circuit closers |02. 'Ihis supplies electrical energy to operate the motor to rotate the shaft |3 and move the clutch member I0 to engagement with the clutch member l1. The motor continues to operate until the disc |50 (Fig. 24) has made one complete revolution and has opened the switch |51 to stop the motor. After the motor has been intermittently operated eight different times accrding to the capacity of the machine illustrated, the operation of the motor is reversed. An intermittent gear |63 is attached to the sleeve 23 tooperatel an intermittently driven gear |64 attached to a shaft |65 supported in the sleeve |48. The intermittent gear |64 is rotated one step, which is one-eighth of a revolution, during each complete revolution of the intermittent gear |63. After eight revolutions of the gear |63, the gear |64 has made one complete revolution and a disc |66, attached to the shaft |65, has also made one complete revolution. A switch device |61 is mounted on a pivot |68 mounted on a pivoted arm |69 (Fig. 25) and is operated by a pin |10 projecting from the disc |66 during the final or eighth step by step rotary movement of said disc |66, which accompanies the intermittent gear |64 in its step by step movements. Rotation of the disc |66 in the direction of the arrow |1| causes the pin |10 to move the switch device |61 on its pivot to position to close the circuit through said switch device. Av weight actuator |12 is attachedrto a rock shaft |13 having an arm |14 (Figi. 26) in (position to be engaged by a pin |15 on the adjacent gear wheel 8| once during each revolution of said gear wheel. This operates the weight |12 and causes said weight to raise the arm |69 and disengage the extension |16 of the Switch device |61 from the pin |10 and permits the spring |11 to move the switch device |61 to open position. The weight |12 is sustained in its unoperated position by a spring |18. 4The closing of the switch |61 closes the circuit to the magnetic coil |19 (Fig. 32), which moves the circuit closer bar to close the circuit for reversing the motor Reverse operation ofthe motor moves the clutch i9 out of engagement with the clutch member |1 and into engagement with the clutch member |5, thereby rotating the shaft 22 while the sleeve 23 and the mechanism controlled thereby remain unoperated (Fig. 22). Rotation of the shaft 22 rotates the gears 8|, 'causing the levers 88 to be oscillated to move the magazine unit at the top of the ascending series across to the top of the descending series, and to move the magazine unit of the descending series across to the bottom of theascending series. This also controls the `rotation of the gears 96 and the operation of the racks 91 and 98 once during each eight revolutions of the intermittent gear |63, which is once during each eight revolutions of the sleeve 23 and the cams 24, 25 and 26. Closing of the switch |61 opens the switches |8| and |82 controlling the magnetic coil |60. This prevents closing ofthe Switch |62 even if the switch |59 be closed or even if the hand starting switch |83 be closed. Similarly, the switch |84, controlled by the actuator bar |6|, is open when the switches |62 are closed, thus preventing the magnetic coil |19 from operating the switch closer |80 during the time the switches |62 are closed.

During rotation of the sleeve 23, a switch |85 (Fig. 2li) remains closed until a pin |86 on the disc |58 engages and operates said switch |85 to open position. However, the disc |50 rotates only a short distance until the pin |86 is moved beyond and out of engagement with the switch |85, which is immediately closed to maintain a supply of electrical energy to the magnetic coil |68, with the result that the actuator |6| is heldin position to keep the switches |62 closed and the switch |84 open until this cycle of operation is apaiser' complete. As the disc |59 approaches its initial starting position, the pin |86 again opens the switch |85.

A rock shaft |81 (Figs. 23 and 27) has an arm |88 engaged by the front cake of ice, which is the cake of ice closest to the outlet opening 69 and held depressed thereby. Depression of the lever |98 turns the shaft |81 to position to close an electric switch |89 in the circuit that supplies electrical energy to a magnetic coil |99 (Fig. 32) that controls effective operation of the switch |59 by an inserted coin. When the switch |89 is open, the magnetic coil |96 is deenergized and the switch |59 cannot be effectively operated. Diiferently expressed, the devic-e |96 prevents acceptance of a coin by the machine there is no cake of ice in position to be ejected. The specific details of this feature of the invention are not illustrated other than the switch |89 and its control.

A switch |9| (Fig. .32) operated by the actuator |6| performs a function similar to the function performed by the switch |89 and deenergizes the device |90 when the switches |62 are closed. Overload cut-out switches |92 are provided to open the circuits to the magnetic coils |69 and |19, and also to the device |90 in event the motor is overloaded.

In Fig. 31, the heavy lining indicates the portion of a cycle of operation of the machine during which the respective switches are closed and the parallel lines, extending from the heavy lines, indicate the periods in the cycle of operation during which the respective switches are open.

The line |93 represents the movement of the racks 91 and 98 in a cycle of operation and the line |94 represents the operation of the levers 88 in shifting the lowest magazine unit from the descending to the ascending tier and the highest magazine unit from the ascending to the descending tier. The line |95 indicates the period in the cycle of operation during which the arms |33 are operated out of engagement with the bars |99 to permit the magazine units in the descending tier to descend.

The lines |96 represent the period during which the gate 6| is moved to its open and closed positions. The irregular line |91 represents the raising and lowering of the conveyor mechanism comprising the members 56 and associated parts, and the line |98 represents the forward and return movements of said conveyor mechanism.

Accordingly, this diagram in Fig. 3l should make clear the sequence of operations of the various mechanisms and parts in order to move the magazine units through their ascending and descending operations, to remove the ic-e cakes from the magazine unit that is shifted from the descending to the ascending tier; the operation of the conveyor and ejector mechanism and the gate in conformity therewith to permit and effect ejection of the advanced cake of ice during the cycle of operation; the releasing of the supports |33 from the descending magazines to permit their downward movement to place ice cakes upon the supports 38 preparatory for operation of the conveyor and ejector mechanisms; and the open and closed periods of the several switches in these cycles of operation.

It should now be clear that the machine operates through these various cycles and movements automatically and as an incident to the placement of a coin of proper size and value in position to close the switch |59, until all of the ice cakes have been discharged from the machine and the AGl machine is empty. When the machine is empty, the operating mechanism is automatically disabled by upright movement of the lever i823,`

which opens the switch E39 and prevents the machine from operating. As indicated, I contemplate use of an appropriate device that will prevent the insertion of a coin or will eject the coin and return it to the owner when the machine is empty, also during the timethat the machine is operating, and when there is no` ravailable electric current for operating the machine. I have not specicallyillustrated thisdevice in the annexed drawings for the reason that the specific construction thereof is not claimed herein.

I am aware that the machine and the arrangement of the various mechanisms disclosed may be Widely varied Within the scope of a Wide range of equivalents Without the least departure from the nature and principle of the invention. The invention may be embodied in many vforms and I contemplate such variationsy in the machine as may be useful in adapting the machine for various purposes to Which it may Well he applied. I have mentioned specilically that the machine is designed and adapted for use in vending ice cakes, but it is clear enough that the machine may be used as a vending machine for various commodities and I am not limiting myself in any of these particulars. Y

I claim:

1. A vending machine comprising an article serving support adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be dispensed, means other than said support operable to individually discharge said articles from said support While said support remains unoperated, mechanism for moving said means in opposite directions from and to a starting position at each eifective operation thereof, and means operated in timed relation with said lirst named means to reload said support when discharged. f

2. A vending machine comprising anY article serving support adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be dispensed, means other than said support operable to individually discharge said articles from said support While said support re.- mains unoperated, a plurality of movable storage racks each adapted to contain a reload comprising a plurality of said articles, mechanism for moving said storage racks adjacent to said servingsupport, and abutment members for removing reloads from said storage racks during movement of said storage racks adjacent to said serving support to replenish the supply of articles thereon.

3. A vending machine comprising an article serving support adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be dispensed, means other than said support operable to individually discharge said articles from said support While said support remains unoperated, a plurality of storage racks each adapted to contain a reload comprising a plurality of said articles, and means for sequentially moving said racks across said support and transferring the reloads therefrom to said support to replenish the supply of articles thereon.

4. A vending machine comprising an article serving support adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be dispensed, means other than said support operable to individually discharge said articles from said support While said support remains unoperated, a plurality of storage racks sequentially arranged and each adapted to contain al reload comprising a plurality of said articles, and means for moving the rst of said sequence of racks across said support, transfer-- ring the reload therefrom to said support and"l positioning said rack at the end of said sequence.

5. A vending machine comprising a structure adapted tol hold a plurality of articles to be vended, means other than said structure to sequentially deliver the articles held thereby, mechanism for moving said means in opposite directions from and to a starting position at each effective operation thereof, and means for automatically replenishing the supply of articles held by said structure when a previous supply thereof has been delivered.

6. A vending machine comprising a structure adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be vended, means other than said structure to individually deliver such articles, mechanism for moving said means in opposite directions from and to a starting position at each elective operation thereof, and means comprising a pluralityv of storage racks sequentially operable to resupply said structure when a previous supply has been delivered.

`'l'. A vending machine comprising an article serving support adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be dispensed, reciprocating means other than said support operable to discharge articles from said support While said support remains-unoperated, and means operated in timed relation with said reciprocating means to reload a plurality of articles onto said support When a previous supply thereof has been discharged.

8. A vending machine comprising a frame, a plurality of storage racks mounted to travel in a-closed path therein and each containing a plurality of articles to be dispensed, a passage for the delivery of articles from said machine, a support, means for moving said storage racks to successively place the contents of each on said support in position to be discharged to said passage, and reciprocating means other than said support to individually discharge to said delivery passage the articles thus positioned.

9, A vending machine comprising a frame, a plurality of storage racks movably mounted therein and each adapted to contain a plurality of articles to be dispensed, a passage for the delivery of articles from said machine, a support, means comprising mechanism for moving said storage racks to successively place the contents of each on said support in position to be discharged to said passage, and reciprocating means other than said support to individually discharge to said delivery passage the articles thus positioned.

l0. A vending machine comprising a frame, a plurality of storage racks mounted to travel in a closed path therein and each containing a plurality of articles to be dispensed, a sup-port, dispensing mechanism, means to move said storage racks as aforesaid and sequentially position the contents thereof on said support for delivery by said dispensing mechanism, and means operable in timed relation With the movements of said storage racks for actuating said dispensing mechanism from and to the same starting position at each effective operation thereof to individually deliver the articles positioned for delivery thereby while said support remains unoperated.

1l. A vending machine comprising a support, a reciprocating dispenser adapted to discharge articles from said support one after another to the limit of the capacity of said support and While said support remains unoperated, storage means adapted to receive a supply of articles to -movable in saidpath but of such number as to incompletely iill the same andleave a shifting space therein, a supporting structure adjacent said shifting space, means for moving said racks and sequentially shifting the same through said shifting space, means for transferring the articles carried by said racks therefrom and to said supporting structure as said racks are shifted across said shifting space and mechanism other than said supporting structure operable intermittently "to discharge articles from said structure.

13. A machine for vending ice comprising a plurality of reloading racks each adapted to carry a plurality of ice blocks in mutually-spaced relation in a row, a support, a server structure 'other than said support embodying means for moving ice blocks of a row along said support to successively deliver the same while maintaining the same in mutually spaced relation, mechanism for reciprocating said server structure from and to the same starting position. at each effective operation thereof, and means for successively presenting the mutually spaced contents of said racks to said support to be delivered by said server structure while maintained in spaced rela- Ition thereby.

14. A machine for vending wrapped ice blocks comprising a plurality of storage racks each adapted to carry a plurality o-f wrapped blocks mutually spaced apart and thereby prevented from freezing together, supports to which said storage racks successively deliver their mutually spaced contents that they may be vended therefrom, and dispensing mechanism comprising means for raising the wrapped blocks from said supports, moving them longitudinally in raised position, and again lowering them to said supports while maintaining their mutually spaced relation to thus advance and dispense the same while eliminating freezing together' of the blocks and injury to the wrappings thereof likely to occur if said wrapped blocks were intermittently slid along said supports.

15. In amachine for dispensing ice or the like, a. server structure comprising supports adapted t@ receive a plurality of articles to be moved lonv gitudinally thereof for delivery therefrom, a loader movable across said structure, means for transfer-ring articles from said loader to said structure, and means for intermittently raising the articles from said supports, moving them longitudinally in raised position and then again lowering them to said supports to sequentially move the same for delivery therefrom.

16. In a vending machine, a storage structure comprising a plurality of rows of vertically superposed storage racks each adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be stored thereon, means for intermittently moving adjacent rows of racks in opposite directions and transversely shifting from row to row the racks at the ends of the respective rows toward which the said rows are moved, racks of said rows during the intervals of rest thereof being positioned in alinement and having free passage therethrough from row to row if empty, and a frame supporting said storage structure and providing free access to at least one outside row of racks, thereby to provide for loading of racks of all the rows through the racks of said outside row alined there-with.

17. In a machine for dispensing ice or the like, a server structure comprising supports adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be moved longitudinally thereof for delivery therefrom, reciproeating means for intermittently advancing articles along said supports toward the point of delivery therefrom while said supports remain unoperated, mechanism operated in timed relation with said reciprocating means to reload said server structure, and devices for advancing the articles at the point of delivery to a greater eX- tent than other articles are advanced by said reciprocating means.

18. In a machine for dispensing ice or the like,

a housing provided with a delivery opening, a

server structure comprising a support adapted to receive a row of articles to be moved longitudinally of the server for delivery through said delivery opening, reciprocating means for intermittently moving said row of articles longitudinally of the server as aforesaid, devices operable beyond said first named means for advancing the articles at the point of delivery to a greater extent than other articles are advanced by said reciprocating means, storage racks for supporting articles to reload said server structure, and means for operating said storage racks in timed relation with said reciprocating means to reload said support.

19. In a vending machine, a storage rack comprising spaced end members, a frame member attached to the upper edge of each of said end members to hold the same in cantilever relation theretol and provide open spaces on Vthe other three sides of the rack thus formed to facilitate insertion and removal of articles therefrom, and means wholly supported by said frame member for supporting articles placed in said rack and for maintaining such articles in mutually spaced relation.

20. In a vending machine having a storage rack as defined in claim 19, means to prevent accidental displacement of stored articles therefroin without hindering intentional displacement of such stored articles.

2l. A storage rack for a vending machine comprising longitudinal supports in the same horizontal plane, end walls secured thereto and a series; of spaced separators along said supports parallel to said end walls, said end walls and separators being positioned to one side of the plane of said supports, said end walls and separators having horizontal extensions in transverse alinement parallel to said plane forming transversely open floors for said compartments, and supporting means for said rack on the outer sides of said end walls, whereby the compartments are entirely unobstructed from side to side of said rack to permit articles to be pushed through them laterally by means passing between said extensions.

JOHN H. SCHREIBER. 

